Newcastle end talks over potential Calvert-Lewin deal

Exclusive: A fee is still being negotiated, but there is confidence that a deal can be struck

But I just can't see Newcastle paying a big transfer fee and premium wages to a striker who won't be first choice. Unless they are planning to sell Isak of course. But there have been no indications of that.

For me, if Calvert-Lewin goes, that's bad news!

Striker out winger in (if the Newcastle swap has any legs) meaning Beto might be our first choice striker, frightening.

It will be interesting to see how Dominic does in a team where he will not be the only genuine centre forward, and not forced to play every game unless he's 100% fit, so maybe it's time for him to move on for his own career

Dobbin will be pure profit.
DCL joined in 2016 so again his £1,5m fee is fully written off.
Even Ben Godfrey is in the books at only £10m - £7m as I suspect he never qualified for the add ons.

Looking good - provided we can get a team together.

DCL for me is a great target man but not a fox in the box. He makes the team play well and makes the team score goals, not someone who scores a lot (except under Carlo).

Also hope Ndiaye comes, but Dyche does love a big target man, which would mean Beto up top more often than not. Doesn't fill me with hope for the season, I have to be honest.

We got £15m for Barkley. If DCL is not worth more than double that then something is very wrong.

Fair enough I suppose, but I still think he'd be a decent signing for them - his hold up play and spring-loaded leap, together with their pacey wingers and midfield could be a marriage made in heaven.

I remember skunks fans were slagging off Gordon when they signed him but that seems to have all changed now. If DCL impresses they'll love him.

What the heck are Everton doing, whilst DCL is not Lukaku, and many of our fans said he wasn't good enough too, to replace DCL for our number 9, let's just say I wouldn't trust Thelwell and co. Remember the other one he got from Wolves and the winger cliche Dyche didn't like. This PPR is nuts for the risks we're taking, 1) Dobbin and now 2) DCL, a proper number 9. It feels like Thelwell has not considered the PPR tactics biting him on the arse.

We will absolutely need to sign a number one striker however if he leaves and it will need to be someone that is capable of hitting the ground running, not another Beto or Chermiti.

When do we ever sign a replacement first?
This is Everton mate lol.

We did the exact same thing when we flogged Lukaku in 2017.
Sold him then didn't have a clue who was replacing him or when.

Also DCL can't wear what he likes outside of working hours?

Moshiri does own EFC, but I doubt he's very interested in the comings and goings at this moment in time.

So any DCL move will be purely down to Thelwell and Dyche.

Maybe that's why the price is a little lowish also?

He will be extremely hard to replace with a striker who is better at that isolated role. He will be extremely hard to replace with a striker who is as good now (albeit he could be replaced with a striker who could become better in 2 to 3 seasons).

Beto is clearly not as good. Chermiti is promising but probably needs a season on loan somewhere to develop.

The sensible thing to do is offer him a new contract and hopes he takes it.

There is another side to that equation. He was basically injured for two years which is why we probably didn't offer him a new contract sooner. Just as with Barkley when he had a dip in form we held off from giving him a new deal but then got upset when left for a nominal fee as his contract ran down. If we had offered him a new deal last summer then we wouldn't be in this spot. But we didn't -- probably wisely -- based on how the situation appeared at the time. But, luckily for both parties he got fit. Had he not then its entirely possible his playing days would be over.

Also, Abraham isn't "injury prone", he just had A really bad injury.

I think he's an excellent SF, but he doesn't score enough goals.

Granted the supply he gets it's nothing short of shite, but I do feel he still is not the full article.

I doubt we will rely on Beto, I fell we will replace DCL with a better version.

Good luck to him if he goes, he had led our line very well.

12 months left on his contract, so no surprise it's only £20m. If Branthwaite only had 12 months to go, Manure would have offered less then £35m, much less.

We just need to get a decent striker in to replace, whether Tammy Abrahams fits that description, I'm not so sure. The lad at Luton would be my preference - can't remember his name but he scored against us at their place.

On another note - Go and get Coufal on a free for RB next season. Forget his age, he's as fit as a Dyche Bull Terrier.

Apparently DCL wants to leave, if he won't sign a new contract then selling him is 100% the right decision.

I also think it's possible people have (as usual) written off Beto a bit prematurely. Yes he will be frustrating and the ball may bounce off him at times but if he gets a run of games I reckon he may well surprise a few. He'll get more goals than DCL did last season if first choice.

I am disappointed he wont sign the new contract after the way Dyche has looked after him but as stated it is better to get 35m towards a replacement than nothing next year.

Some strange posts though. Amazing how quickly personal agendas are raised on a football forum.

17th August, there will be 11 players on the pitch wearing royal blue. I don't care who they are, we'll be roaring them on.

Cheers. That is the range I was assuming based on quoted fees for Onana and Branthwaite. Which means -- if true -- someone else will need to go even if we sell DCL and Dobbin. Maybe we can find a buyer for Maupay sharpish?

Of course, he's not a natural goal scorer and doesn't have much of a shot on him, but he is very skillful in other areas, leads us from the front and fits right into Dyche's ethos. I'll repeat what I said on another thread, in our current financial and ownership situation, any sales of our better players are worrying as it would seem we will only be getting inferior quality in as a replacement. DCL - much more than Branthwaite in my opinion - is key to how we currently play. I would be trying hard to avoid this if I was in Dyche's shoes. And I suspect he will.

How confident am I of that being the case? Not very.

If ambition extends beyond survival we need better up front and elsewhere but the question is are we brave enough to gamble on trading steady eddies like DCL in the hope of finding better?

The chance of glamour and excitement to "challenge" should be taken and he should go but I'm old school and think 90% of footy stats a joke (see what I did?) so what do I know?

I like the look of the young Ferguson at Brighton. He was less good last season but certainly has potential. Not sure he would come to us. Would like us to scout the next Toney rather than look at has-beens from other clubs.

I would wish Calvert-Lewin all the best though. He would leave under better circumstances than Gordon did.

John #43, stick to handing out pamphlets outside paddy's market.

If he fancies a different challenge whilst probably boosting his wages then it's sensible to let him leave.

Is it just the fee quoted or that plus the young winger? A fully recovered Tammy Abraham would be a good replacement and if Beto goes out and someone like Broja is snagged then I don't see we will be disadvantaged.

He takes dogs abuse from people who clearly don't understand what they are watching.

The Geordies will love him. Pay him more and with him in their ranks, they will challenge for CL football.

If we have to make a sale to comply with PSR surely the inevitable departure of Onana will be enough.

How on earth could we replace DCL who now appears to be fully fit, for the derisory £20M reputedly offered by the Barcodes?

With just two other (unproven) strikers on the books, this story is preposterous.

However, bottom line here for me is, if we offered an updated contract and he has declined, we have to sell rather loose him on a free. Simple economics and common sense.

Apologies in advance

When the dust settles on 1 July, then we will have a clearer picture of what we can and can't afford!

Do you not fear the thought of finding a replacement, failing, and then... ending up with, Beto!?!

My God – he makes my late nan look like Billy Whizz.

Bernie Wright
Brett Angell
Beto

Rank them in descending order of capability. And I am leaving out Andy Crooks's nan as her angel wings will give her an unfair advantage on getting up for headers.

I always thought it was criminal to have him as our main Number 9 for so many years. He is a good sub though and idealy I wouldn't want him to go but if the price is right with 1 year left to his contract

Him not signing an extension... well, good luck to the boy! Obviously we need a solid replacement...

Let's us look for young pacy lads from the lower leagues and across Europe too... there must be a few bargains out there!

Thanks for the fantastic goals against the RS . Thanks for toughing it out on the wing in the early years, not your natural position, and sorry we never came up with a song for you in 8 years, nearly got there with Bella Ciao but not quite,

If Dom does go he'll get a Mckenzie like reception when he returns, unlike Gordon and Rooney.

I think it's time.

Maybe Friedkin can bring Rom back to replace Dom, Rom was great tonight for Belgium

Beto is nowhere Dom and so having him as our main striker would be concerning.

I'd have Callum Wilson in a straight swap anyday!

Good luck Dom but you need to be hitting 15 - 20 a season to be worth more than that.

UTFT and fcuk the skunks!

That said, we can't just ship Dom and hope Beto is the answer. A quality replacement would be absolutely essential.

I just hope in KT we for once become a customer seeing right through the absurd prices/commodities on offer to us by the Arkwright's of the football world, although if he succeeds, given the mountain of engulfing financial shit landed upon him and us, he'll deserve a statue right next to Dixie.

£20M seems a tad low though, but as Contracts run down, sometimes half a loaf is better than no bread at all.

But as ever with Footballers...and Clubs for that matter, if loyalty is a requirement - get a dog.

"DCL? Forget it Jake, it's Chinatown."

Not easily replaced though.

Otherwise, there's a few names mentioned in this thread as possible upgrades / replacements. Some perspective...

Ferguson (Brighton)

Plays for a much better team than Everton and scored 6 in 27 last season. Would probably cost between £50m and £70m. Will not be remotely interested in signing for Everton and we can't afford him anyway.

Toney (Brentford)

Now age 28 and has one year left on his contract. He already plays for a team rated by Transfermarkt as having a materially better squad than us (some £85m better). Linked to Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs for about £40m to £60m. Will not be remotely interested in signing for Everton and we can't afford him anyway.

Adebayo (Luton)

He's 26 and had 1 season in the Premier League scoring 10 times in 27 games. Most of that was in tandem with Carlton Morris who got 11 in 38 - in a team that really went for it (and had the players to do that going forward at least). I think it's safe to say he'd have a harder job of it in a more conservative Everton side playing a lone striker. Transfermarkt doesn't say when his contract expires but I'd guess he'd cost about £25m - which presumably puts him out of reach, especially seeing as though that is probably the peak he will ever be worth.

Abraham (Roma)

He's 26 and scored 1 in 8 games for Roma last season (and 8 in 38 the year before - inferior to Beto's 10 in 33 for a weaker Udinese side). He's on a fairly steep downward trajectory but with 2 years left on his contract would probably cost about £25m - and again we won't be paying that for him. Could be available on loan, I suppose.

More realistic replacements might include:

- Fofana (4 in 15 for Burnley)
- Nketiah (5 in 27 for Arsenal)
- McBurnie (6 in 21 for Sheff Utd)
- Broja (1 in 21 for Chelsea and Fulham)
- Strand Larsen (13 in 37 for Celta Vigo)
- Krstovic (7 in 35 for Lecce)
- Dallinga (14 in 33 for Toulouse)
- Wahi (9 in 28 for Lens)
- Balogun (7 in 29 for Monaco)
- Akpom (11 in 25 for Ajax)
- Denkey (23 in 28 for Club Brugge)

This highlights just how difficult it will be to replace DCL with a more effective player when we can't even compete with the likes of Bournemouth, Palace and Brentford in the transfer market. It should be possible to identify a long term development player like Spurs bought in Veliz last season. He really is an excellent prospect and cost only £11m. Players like that are in reach - however, now age 20 he's still some way of making an impact at Spurs, with a grand total of zero goals in 8 games for Seville on loan. So you'd need someone like McBurnie as a stop gap while you bide your time...

Dallinga and Strand Larsen are big boys who could do the job. Not sure what they would cost though.

And, as usual, I would add the reminder that there is a continent called North America where strikers have occasionally been spotted on the landscape.

It's also fair to note that Dyche played Demarai Gray as his striker for a spell (albeit out of necessity) so I wouldn't rule out a faster, more technical forward line - in fact I hope that is the direction of travel.

What about that 300lb Viking looking Hungarian striker? He'd definitely be a big target man

Mcburnie is 28 and has scored about 12 goals in about 100 games in the premier league.

How could he possibly be a good signing for us?

Not only that but McBurnie is trouble off the field. Arrested for stamping on a fan, investigated for assaulting a fan, arrested for drunk driving, involved in another fight, had some weird dalliance with a porn star. He seems like a 70s style flash Harry unprofessional type. I imagine his legal issues and drunken escapades have also affected his form and contract status. Basically a poor man's Duncan Ferguson.

Like Dom, Wilson's contract is up in May. He's also 5 years older and was out injured for 28 games this last season.

And as a guy who's missed many games due to 9 different hamstring injuries (among others), it's unlikely that Callum can put in the hard yards Dom does.

So if DCL is on his way out, hopefully Wilson isn't coming in the other direction.

Hopefully though the head accountant at the Club is keeping an eye on these transfer dealings and using some financial jiggery-pokery to keep us within the limits this time round.

But from his perspective, he's been asked to play as a first defender, winning aerial duels before chasing his own headers. And at a basket case of a club that can't get its shit together. I wouldn't blame him for a second if he wasn't going to sign another contract.

You'd have to question the ambition or sanity of any player re-signing if they had other options.

Newcastle could be a pretty good fit for him. He'll never be a top finisher, but he'll give his all and with the kind of service he'll get, he'll score plenty.

In response to your comments about us signing a Veliz type player who we can mould, I think Chermitti is that player and that he is rated highly by the club. Let's hope he has a break out season in the next two years but he's not the answer now.

I can't see us being in for both Minteh and Ndiaye if Harrison is resigning on loan but I like the look of both players.

I am with Mike Gaynes on two points, one being that many have prematurely written off Beto, give him a season to adjust come on. The other is that Brandon Vazquez could be a viable and cost effective solution if DCL goes, I have been keeping an eye on him.

He's only 26 and many big target forwards get better in their late 20s. He's pretty fast and very strong so has the physical tools.

Never in our history have we started a new season with just three strikers, two of them with just one season at the club and three PL goals between them, the third a new starter.

Why do so many on here believe that this would be remotely acceptable?

DCL is one of the most effective holdup players in the league. He's superb in the air and works his socks off for the team. He'd also be a 20+ goal scorer if he had anything resembling decent service. Latchford without Thomas would've struggled to score more than 10 goals a season in this team, same goes for every striker but DCL is expected to drape his own chances?

The Lukaku syndrome repeats itself. Next victim please step forward.

As for the donkey from Sheffield Utd😂😂😂😂🤣🤣

There's also the possibility that Beto is not with us next season. It was a strange deal with Udinese where he cost £0 in year one and then there must now be payment obligations coming up on the £22 (ish) million we have outstanding. It wouldn't surprise me if he is shipped back to Italy.

If he stays, he's certainly better than his 3 in 30 suggests. His record in recent years is:

2022/23: 10 in 33 for Udinese
2021/22: 11 in 28 for Udinese
2020/21: 11 in 30 for Portimonese in Portugal

I reckon that translates to about a 7 to 10 goal a season return in the Premier League.

Adama Traore's top speed last season was 35.5. The fastest in the league last season was Luton's Ogbene at 36.93 and Evertons was interestingly Onana at 36.65.

Beto was pretty poor at times last season but fans are too quick to write players off and many foreign players take a season to adjust to the PL. I'm not expecting him to be prime Drogba but as supporters I reckon we could maybe support him more, especially if he's given the role of first choice striker.

I think he's way off it, and I would be giving Chermiti more minutes ahead of him if I am honest. He looks a more complete player.

If Newcastle are in for DCL, and he's not going to sign a contract he has to be sold at the right price. For me that's £30 to £35m.

The best business I think would be move Beto and Dcl on, and bring in Tammy Abraham and Adebayo, or a rising star from a European league. There are good players out there - last year it was Boniface, Moffi, etc.

There are good reasons why we bought him and I'm not sure taking a loss on him after an underwhelming first season in the PL makes good sense. Sure if someone in Italy bids £20m+ then great but not sure how likely that is. We'd be looking for someone with a similar profile and record anyway.

I really like Chermitti, have high hopes for him. But he still needs time to develop and unless he has a stellar pre-season I reckon a loan would be best for him (presuming we have bought in some more cover).

Certainly there are good players out there but not many who will guarantee more than 10 pl goals per season. I reckon Beto would get close to that if he stayed fit as first choice striker.

No guarantee that happens with Beto but I'm not convinced he deserves to be written off yet. Regular games and a full pre-season will definitely help.

The reality is that even if we did manage to find £25m (ish) to buy the likes of Adebayo or Abraham, neither of them are likely to score more than about 8 to 12 Premier League goals. It wouldn't be a huge surprise to see them ending the season with more like 5 or 6 goals (i.e. less than DCL).

And they may also lessen the goal threat of Doucoure who certainly benefited from the space DCL created by his hard work.

Across the major European leagues, the top scorer charts include a lot of wing forwards and attacking midfielders. Those are the players who would move the dial for us in terms of overall goal threat - because it means goals are coming from a variety of sources and a greater variety of play.

DCL when fully fit looked good towards the end of the season but is he worth keeping.

Beto is a poor man's Lukaku although both are a little slow but can put themselves about in the penalty box.

Chermitti may be ready to stake a claim after a learning season in a struggling squad but it remains to be seen what Dyche has up his sleeve.

You do need options up front and if DCL goes then another will need to be signed.

Doucoure may also go after wanting a move 2 seasons ago.

The next 5 weeks could be very interesting.

As for Beto I am agreement with Sam - there is more to come from him in my opinion.

As for replacements, while I don't think the PSR gap is perhaps quite as bad as some others are suggesting, I very much doubt we'd have much to re-invest, if any, despite the rather odd accounting methods used nowadays. I think we'd likely have to shift out Onana as well to have anything meaningful to re-invest.

I bow to others' greater knowledge of players we could recruit (and hopefully Thelwell has the best insights of all) but I would sell Beto back for the money we contracted if that was on offer. Sure he may be better in season 2 but he looked painfully short last year. As for Chermiti, I don't know how we can judge him, we barely saw him last season.

DCL when fully fit looked good towards the end of the season but is he worth keeping.

Beto is a poor man's Lukaku although both are a little slow but can put themselves about in the penalty box.

Chermitti may be ready to stake a claim after a learning season in a struggling squad but it remains to be seen what Dyche has up his sleeve.

You do need options up front and if DCL goes then another will need to be signed.

Doucoure may also go after wanting a move 2 seasons ago.

The next 5 weeks could be very interesting.

Ancelotti told him his job was to stay in the box, not defend, run channels or be the sole outlet chasing hoof balls.

Is this a tactical sale because Dyche wants players who excel at nothing but make a good unit? Or do we just need the money? Is Beto or Chermiti anywhere near the footballer or finisher DCL is? Nope..nowhere near.. is it that a new contract isn't very good in comparison to what he is being offered? Who is engineering a move? Player or club?

I hope he doesn't go, but I suspect he will. The dumbing down as initiated by the club has started.

PS.. I don't want to be Burnley mk2

Let's stack chips on this season and see how he does.

Maybe he wants a new start, maybe he's still smarting over the booing at Villa, maybe he doesn't like the playing style. But attempts to shift blame onto the manager in some way for this situation seems disingenuous to me.

Sell, get some money in and reinvest. Players come and go.

If DCL fails to sign a new contract he will presumably cost another £5M(?) in salary plus the derisory £20M offered by the Barcodes. If he enjoys a successful season he may even decide to stay, with the prospect of playing at BMD.

He will win absolutely nothing with perennial losers at St James's Park.

So clearly they can be effective.

I'm not sure we're suddenly expecting Dyche to start playing passing football next season so there's a decent chance whoever our striker is will need to be a bit neanderthal. I'm not dreaming of Mcburnie up front but find the contempt for some of these players (including our own) somewhat puzzling.

Ian@158 I don't think we have the wiggle room to turn down £20-25m of profit on DCL for PSR reasons. If he won't sign new contract I think selling him is the right move. Then it's up to recruitment team and Dyche to either find a replacement or make sure Beto/Chermitti are able to replicate what he provided. We seem to be working in the transfer market more sensibly these days so I'm optimistic.

With the best will in the world, Calvert Lewin as a goal scorer needs to be going for way more than £20m. I still think it'll be £30-35m including add ons.

Writing for The Times (22 June), Joyce claims that the Toffees have offered a new deal to the 27-year-old who has only a year left on his current deal.

Also think we could do a swap deal Maupay for Ndiaye and what about a cheeky bid for Zirkzee.

At least we are alive in this transfer window and seem to be trading quite well so far.

Tom #136, Lukaku and Beto are anything but slow.

Christine #129, Dyche ain't Carlo, and he doesn't have Carlo's squad. Carlo had James, Sigurdsson and Ricarlison, all of whom could dribble a ball and make a final pass, and Dyche had none of those. He looked at his squad and determined that what was needed to stay up was defense, and he needed Dom to contribute there, not hang around in the box waiting for crosses
.
And Dom has been a massive contributor defensively. He's a big reason we've gone from being one of the worst in the league against set pieces to one of the best, because Dyche has assigned him to attack the ball while everybody else is man-marking, and he does it superbly. Dom also helps us clear our lines when necessary because, if he's upfield when a ball is cleared, it's much less likely to be coming straight back in.

I think Dyche's use of him has been proven correct, because we're still in the Premier League.

He had suffered a serious injury, and was probably bought back too soon, on a number of occasions, when never fully fit.

The role he played in Dyche's team formation, meant he was really on a hiding to nothing. Playing alone up front, chasing lost causes, against two hairy arsed centre backs. With virtually no goals coming from our somewhat sterile midfield, most of the responsibility fell on his shoulders.

Ancelotti knew how to best use him best, and he benefitted accordingly.

If the player does go, it will be has last big move at 27 years old, and at the present time, we probably can't match the salary Newcastle are offering.
Be interesting to see what his goal return will be like in a more attack minded team.

My lasting memories of DCL, will be the diving header, which put us in front against Palace at Goodison, when we looked dead and buried, on what was a raucous night, and of course the towering header at the far post against the rs this season, in a wonderful 2-0 win.

Best wishes Dom.

Injury permitting Tammy Abraham would be a far better buy. Good size, works hard, scores goal, and can link the player. The owner is pretty sound as well.

Sam 159, neither of them are fit to lace Dom's boots.

He was never a prolific striker and seemed to be about the best under the Kenwright - Moshiri regime.

A new dawn and the last year of his contract — get some money in; not a mortal loss, imo.

Is it down to Dyche that we are completely devoid of genuine craft, or is it down to Dyche, that Everton, are still a premier league club?

It looks like we paid over the odds for Beto, because we were skint, and couldn't afford to pay any money up front, and it looks like we are going to be getting peanuts (in today's world) for a proven striker, who has been very important to Everton for years.

£26m regardless of the deal structure that looks expensive, as it doesn't look like he can cut it against better quality teams.

I am surprised some still expect him to come good. He'd probably do well in the championship, Serie B or Saudi like Mitrovic. A league where his physical attributes can outweigh and bully the opposition - and where his basic skills matter less.

A modern day Brett Angell. Scored against poor teams, and got his move.

I'm all for it and think it is, by far, the best option for Everton who are clearly forced to sell players to not run afoul of P&SR.

That's not to say I don't like, nor will we not miss, DCL (and Onana?). But if selling DCL and Onana enable us to keep Picks and Jarrad it's truly the best option in my opinion.

And both DCL and Onana will go and I hope do very well for themselves at other clubs.

We either keep an unsettled player for his final 12 months then goes for nothing, or we grant his wish and take the money now.

Different if a player had three years remaining on their contract.

If he wants to go, then cherio, Everton will survive without him and every confidence we will bring someone else in.

If DCL goes to Newcastle or Chelsea he will score more than Beto and Chermiti put together next season

And to replace them, we have brought in Beto, Chermiti, Harrison and McNeil. It is not a surprise that we have struggled in attack over the last few seasons.

And Chris Woods and Ollie McBurnie are crap. Let's not try to polish a turd because we are desperate.

Beto needs service. I think he can be a bit spawny, with his ungainly style making it hard for defenders (and team-mates) to know what he is about to do - but he doesn't have great close control and his game relies on reacting quickly to breaking balls. His movement in the box is good, and he can finish, but his general play is not great. He might score regularly in a decent side but we are not a decent side right now, and his all-round game is weak.

Some fans are excited about Chermiti. I am not. He needs to beef up and develop. A replacement for DCL he is not, as Premier League defenders will bully him off the ball at will. I'd be really surprised if he has what it takes to be a successful Premier League player, but I definitely don't see it happening in the next 2 years.

Maupay does not suit the Dyche system. His time spent in an Everton shirt thus far has been pretty woeful, and I imagine the club are doing what they can to move him on before the end of the summer window.

So if DCL leaves then I hope we have our eye on a replacement or two because otherwise I think we are going to really struggle this season. I would be crossing everything that DCL signs his extension as, when fit, and in a side that is balanced and can offer him some service, I think he is a very decent footballer who really helps us to play long and get up the pitch.

The only league game he was on the pitch for any length of time, at the very end of the season, he looked promising. I realise it's risky to count on him establishing himself this season, with only Beto as back up (is slowmo Maupay really coming back?), but we have not had any opportunity to judge him yet.

Chermiti so far reminds me of David Bellion the young French striker Utd Signed from Sunderland. And I don't mean that as an insult. Bellini looked quite promising early on. But somehow he ended up with just 45 career goals. I'm not predicting the same fate for Chermitti. I'm just saying there are promising signs but ultimately it could go either way. I hoping he does well but I'm not assuming he will

You're right about Chris Woods. I remember him taking a penalty for Rangers in 1990 in the UEFA cup and he missed it. Guess that's what you deserve when you try to take the piss out of your opponents and let the goalie take the penalty.

Disappointed in seeing yet another academy player leaving, surely Dobbin could contribute to the team as successfully as incoming signings.

Your post is misleading. Rima had to payout Mourinho for the remainder of his nearly expired contract so they didn't save money by sacking him. They bankrolled him for two years thinking he'd get the success to offset the cost but he didn't so they ran foul of FFP. The conspiracy theory is they sacked him with Roma 9th to avoid the he awkward optics of not renewing his contract in the unlikely event he climbed to 4th and got CL at the 11th hour. But the more likely explanation is that he spent a fortune only to see them get worse and worse domestically and having fallen foul of FFP, fallen to 9th and endured a miserable run of results they fired him hoping to at least salvage something from the season.

I don't like saying that, especially Newcastle as their supporters wind me up, even though I've got a few Newcastle supporting mates. Probably more than Tottenham and Chelsea.

If the rumours are true, including Onana, we could land around £90M.

All down to negotiation, which has never been our strong point, let's face it. But if this is happening, I'm pretty sure the potential US new owners will be influencing.

Just don't sell Branthwaite.

Ian #177, you're not the only one writing Beto off. I choose not to close that judgement based on his having played only about a third of the available minutes, most of them late minutes off the bench.

Steve #182, I must have missed the games where Cannon, Simms and Dobbins contributed goals and assists. Between the three of them, two goals and no assists. McNeil is already better than any of the three of them will ever be. And I believe Chermiti is destined to be an outstanding player.

But we now have a new chief negotiator and as many/most/all here on ToffeeWeb will tell you the previous one was useless.

If we escape PSR this year then with a change of rules and that we have (presumably) massively underspent in the last 2 to bring us back in line and with no cost for BMD to sink us plus the increased revenue, then 2024-25 summer should be a lot less stressful as more who will we buy rather than who do we have to sell. We possibly will also have got rid of all the legacy from the Moshiri era (Holgate and Keane are out of contract next summer as are Maupay and Doucoure) so we could be looking better and it just means cobbling together enough to get through this season.

And DCL will be a huge loss. We achieved 48 points last season - 37 of them in games where DCL started. On a PPG basis that is 1,42 when he started and 0,91 when he did not. It is his overall play that makes us better.

Unfortunately the financials and squad quality mean that it will be another season like last year. For context, the Transfermarkt squad values currently puts us at 16th – here's the data of our nearest rivals (other than the three promoted clubs):

9. Brighton: €511M
10. Palace: €441M
11. West Ham: €439M
12. Brentford: €414M
13. Forest: €387M
14. Bournemouth: €384M
15. Wolves: €349M
16. Everton: €331M
17. Fulham: €324M

Even if you recognise the flaws in the valuations, this is still a very good indicator of squad quality (and investment in the squad) relative to peers. The reality is that we will face another fight to stay in the Premier League – which means more of the same style of football out of necessity.

Jay # 155, a cheeky bid for Zirkzee might have to start around £45m for them to be interested. Man Utd, Arsenal and other Champions League clubs seem to be competing for his attention. I would put him in the category of players we can't afford and who wouldn't be remotely interested in joining Everton.

I wish he would become the top striker we all hope he would and could be don't see that at Everton.

Christine, most Everton strikers of late cut an isolated figure. Just like managers, I don't blame them. Forwards need supply.

I'll never forget that diving header against Palace in one of the best atmospheres I've witnessed at Goodison when I accidentally sat amongst the Palace supporters. And I've seen a lot at Goodison over my now many years. But that is up there.

By the end, the Palace supporters were marvelling at Goodison rocking, shaking my hand and hugging me!!

So what about Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Everton Number 9?
If you look at the stats. Look at all his elongated absences because of one injury or another and then prolonged injury because of reinjury upon return.

Look at how poor he was in front of goal for 19 or so games last season. Look at how much his wages are. Is Calvert-Lewin value for money?? He is not prolific. So can a perennial relegation struggling team afford no striker for huge gaps? An injury-prone player who is not a natural goal scorer is not the greatest asset.

Yes we should sell if this approach is true. However, Everton's reluctance to replace strikers with strikers is world famous. If he goes, the big worry is no replacement or we acquire yet another ponderous non-goalscoring midfielder who has the passing ability of a constipated corpse.

Some great observations from Toffee Webbers precede mine.
A player missed is Dominic Solanke, unless he has moved on. He would easily find a home and adulation here. Valued at €40M by Transfermarkt but Bournemouth would want more like €50-60m probably.

Do the deal post PSR deadline and we're onto a winner.

Regarding Beto - with a good number of starts I think he will return probably at least as good as DCL, maybe not as many won headers and hold up play from Pickford's long punts etc., but in goal return I'd be hopeful. Chermiti is somewhat untested although a lively looking attacker imo, and we may find that this pair working together could return some good dividends.

I know I wear blue tinted specs but compared to the last couple of years I do feel cautiously optimistic about the next season. The psychological effect of coming out of last season as well as we did despite all the negatives will probably work for us.

It is a testament to our fortitude - players, management (at last) and fans alike

It is now 4 years since we have been able to compete with the likes of Bournemouth, Palace and Brentford in the transfer market.

I was watching his goals from serie A again and there is a really good variety. I wonder if all the people writing him off have seen them? A mix of well timed runs, powerful headers, and even a scissor kick from the edge of the box showing great technique.

I think far too many people lack nuance when looking at players performances and are not considering factors such as confidence and consistency. Beto was clearly lacking in both last season.

I'm not convinced he will be first choice even if DCL did leave but if he was then I think he could surprise some. Or maybe not. But either way as Mike G says I'm not sure we've given him enough time yet for concrete judgement.

I think that is a fair assessment. The issue is there is a gap between promise, which I think we agree Chermiti has, and realisation. They are thin margins but they exist. You see this in all high level sport. Not quite good enough is still incredibly good.

On the other hand, I place my faith (maybe over optimistically) in our manager and DoF to have seen something compelling and in the former's case, if and when he judges him ready from what he sees in training- which we don't see.

I tend to agree with Robert and others that this coming season will remain a hair shirted existence. We need to sell to meet PSR and there certainly won't be money to buy a £40-50m striker, unless we sell pretty much all of our crown jewels, even assuming such a striker saw us as a good career move at this point.

On the other hand, if we can just hang in there for a year, maybe two, the PSR position should improve markedly and with savvy new owners re-structuring our debt and properly capitalising us, and a new stadium proving a spark as well as some additional revenue, maybe we could get back to being a proper EPL club rather than a husk of one.

At least, that's what I feel in my more optimistic moments

1.42 points per game with Dom. 0,91 points per game without him.

Over 38 games that is
with 54 points
without 35 points.

One is comfortably mid-table - the other is last game of the season relegation dogfight.

Quirk of the system, and an even quirkier quirk when we are swapping home grown talent with teams like Villa and the Barcodes. We sell them DCL for £30m, they sell us their kid for £30m, and each of us immediately has £144m buying headroom under the PSR rules (five times the profit on the sale, less the first year of five years of amortising on the purchase). The Saudis will exploit this to the hilt, cos they have plenty of dough to spend once they cut loose of the PSR limits binding them.

I think you are broadly correct but it is a truly asinine way of arranging things and quite obviously stores up massive problems down the line as you still have large depreciation while quite likely needing to buy anew. Not everyone will profit on transfer trading, pretty much by definition.

It strikes me as a ponzi scheme method of accounting, suitable for fixed asset investment but not for employees, and it amounts to kicking the can down the road. It reminds me a little, albeit in very different circumstances, of PFI in the NHS where you get your shiny new hospital, 'free' at first, but then find excessive costs down the line forcing you to cut your operating budgets.

“I must have missed the games where Cannon, Simms and Dobbins contributed goals and assists. Between the three of them, two goals and no assists.” Not quite.

Here are last season's stats:

Ellis Simms - 19 goals and 4 assists.
Tom Cannon - 3 goals and 2 assists (13 appearances)
Lewis Dobbin - 1 goal 0 assists (15 appearances)
Dwight McNeil - 3 goals 7 assists (41 appearances)
Youseff Chermiti - 0 goals 0 assists (20 appearances).

“I believe Chermiti is destined to be an outstanding player.”

He might, but he has demonstrated no more evidence of that than Dobbin, Cannon or Ellis.

I can see him going Germany or Italy. Milan are after a strike after Giroud, and the fashion is good. Some English lads in Tomori and Loftus Cheek already there.

Maybe DCL would have more goals if there were more crosses into the box but playing a left footed winger on the right guarantees that there will be no early crosses from that side. How many times did we see Harrison run towards the corner then stop and take a couple of touches to get the ball on his left foot, giving the defence all the time in world to cover him. I don't understand why Dobbin was not tried on the right.

Irrespective of his alledged book value with 12 months left on his contract, I am astonished how many on here seem happy for him to go for a derisory £20M and seriously believe we could acquire an adequate replacement.

Phil@218 hits the nail on the head.

Mike was being partial in selecting his data points. It didn't suit his argument that Ellis left and bagged 19 goals with his new club. Or that Tom Cannon scored as many goals in 13 games for Leicester as Beto and Chermiti did in 50 games combined for us last season.

When you release or sell James, Richarlison, Gordon, Iwobi, Cannon, Ellis, Dobbins (and possibly DCL), replacing them with Beto Chermiti, Harrison and McNeil, the outcome is league finishes of 16th, 17th and 15th.

If DCL stays it is great news, as the alternative of Beto, Chermiti, Ndiaye, Wood or McBurnie leading the way in attack is not going to improve those league positions next season.

Steve #224, Simms and Cannon weren't playing in our shirt, or even in our league, when they made their contributions. They made virtually none to Everton.

I will say that I felt at the time that selling Simms was a big mistake -- potentially a Robinson-sized mistake. Seems like it might turn out that way.

Could be wrong, it has been known, often. 😂

Thing is, depending on which site you believe, anything could be true.

Oh, and Maupay can go for a fiver. I think that keeps our heads above water.

Iwobi, Gray, Cannon, Simms, Samuel smith, Dobbin, plus loan fees for maupay and Holgate will be in 23/24 numbers - plus any other player sold between now and 30th June. Not far off £50m raised post remaining book value.

"Swap Weekend

But it wasn't 1 September, it was a normal Saturday in June. And one thing all four of these busy clubs have in common? Concerns over their Premier League 'Profit and Sustainability' (PSR) position as they approach the 30 June accounting deadline.

This flurry of transfer activity immediately drew scepticism, but has also annoyed some rival clubs.

And BBC Sport knows of at least one club that is so concerned it intends to raise the matter with the Premier League."

Some loser club no one wanted to swap with I suppose.

I mistakenly thought we were out of the woods due to the Castore money coming in but what was told to me was the amount we were "over" PSR was a lot less than was generally being bandied about, and that we'd be fine and didn't have to sell any of our major players to comply.

I hope that's accurate and true!

I like DCL and if he stay's 100% fit then he can still be a big asset next season but usually once injuries kick in to one's career they never seem to leave.

I do get a few of these right you know.

He has mobility issues. He's a dirty sod with a poor discipline record and he's ugly as fuck. A poor,version of Freddie Flintoff.

Paul Kossoff don't you rate DCL then?

Like Col, not trying to embarrass you but despite the fact you say you get a few right I don't think this is one of those times.

DCL is a handsome lad. Doesnt improve him as a player though.

Again,this isn't about a replacement for DCL. It is a quick fix until we can get funds for a serious long term prospect. We may have to turn over a few positions as the market makes opportunities. Keeping DCL into the last year without a new contract is not the solution. Sign extension or sell.

Seen this film before. This will be the bit where all those people who have given him dogs abuse for years start labeling him a greedy treacherous bastard because he isn't showing enough loyalty towards them.

We may be shite but we're lovely looking.

Changing the subject how do people feel about "The Qatar Airways Stadium?"

I for one, want DCL to stay as he makes us a better team when he's in it. Get some decent support for him and you watch him score!

I mean, how many Oscar, Grammy winners are ugly? Same goes for sports people albeit with exceptions like Beardsley and Stevie me lar.

Remember, it's your inner beauty that counts.

I give you Seamus.

“I think [Beto] will do well against some middle to weaker teams and not so well against the better teams”.

No truer words spoken Ray when we look at his Serie A record where the bulk of his goals were scored against “middle to weaker teams” and two or three against “the better teams”.

Paul Kossoff 252 etc. (and 2020-2024):

You do talk uninformed rubbish at times (with your pathetic but oh so hilarious “handbag” jibe). “Newcastle don't think you're good enough for them”. Quite the opposite, Newcastle wanted him, and badly, but balked at the deliberately artificially high fee we set. Read, research, think, before you post. On the other hand, however, you can write some cutting intelligent stuff that gets to the nub of the matter and offers top-drawer advice to Thelwall and his crew: “My opinion, withdraw any new offer and tell him to f off”. Incisive, decisive (by the way, Michael Kenrick has asked that we spell out “fuck” rather than spray-paint with your “F”).

"all those people who have given him dogs abuse for years start labeling him a greedy treacherous bastard."

260 plus posts and no one has said that. Also, not sure generally being supported, earning 100k a week, but having some random posters on ToffeeWeb call him "championship at best," plus a smattering of frustrated boos from a minority in one game qualifies as "dogs abuse."

In the real world there are people earning a pittance actually getting dogs abuse every day from bosses, coworkers, family. In the football world there are also players having all kinds of objects thrown at them by their own supports, being constantly abused on social media, having the media chase them down constantly to find any whiff of scandal that can sell a rag. In the big scheme of things he is not and never has suffered "dogs abuse" assuming that is "dogs abuse" in your mind doesn't mean simple criticism of his finishing, frustration with his injuries, and a tiny minority of ill informed insinuations about his sexuality that are routinely shouted down by the masses. But yeah never miss a chance to get on your forklift and berate the fans.

Of all rumours I've read, I've still not read that one.

It's not inconceivable that Everton offered more than Newcastle. But that would be unusual as you'd expect the agent would have leaked that on.

Nothing unusual in that and nothing wrong with DCL weighing up any options he might have. Let's wait and see rather than rush to judgment about anything especially when, like tappy-tappy warhorse Paul Kossoff, we know exactly fuck all about what is actually going on other than that our club placed a rather off-putting 40 millionish price-tag on DCL.

All we know is that the media says something's going on, which was kind of my point.

2016/17 - the season we sold Lukaku. He Scored 25 goals and we finished 7th. So glad I didn't delete that spreadsheet a few days ago. Was just about to!

4 in 12 against the top 6
11 in 14 against the middle 7 (including 4 in one match) - so 7 in 13
10 in 12 against the bottom 6

So how does Beto in Italy compare with that? And if it does are you happy to have someone who scores 25 goals a season?

Not surprised the barcodes pulled out, I thought £35m was punchy given how few games he's played last couple of years and with only one year on his contract.

We stuck to our guns I guess. Fingers crossed he does sign but there were other clubs interested too I think so am not expecting him to stay.

I think there's other variables going on in this deal, in that we apparently owe Sheffield United as much as 20% of the DCL fee, and Lyon have allegedly offered £40m on Minteh according to some sources, whereas we had £30m in mind.

One hell of a hockey game.

The one US sport I really like is college basketball - I lived in Chapel Hill for a while - and I enjoy the rituals of going to Wrigley Park in person, but hockey is the worst of major US sports.

Having spent a lot of time in the States and more recently Texas, I watched American football and adopted the Longhorns. I kind of understand it. Reminds me of Rugby League. Not identical, but there are parallels. I don't know if it's a Texas thing, but the support for college football is unreal. Crowds of up to 100,000.

I was reading Alan Myers. He was a bit non-committal, but indicates Everton and Newcastle are talking with Minteh possibly coming to us. They also apparently having to shed players to avoid PSR penalties.

Countdown is on, and soon we'll be back at Goodison and can get on with the football!!

Hockey is a game played on grass/astroturf with a ball where you can only use on side of the stick (makes it a bit more skillful) and you cannot use your feet to control the ball (making it yet more skillful) and any violence is limited to having a 5½oz ball hit at you at speeds around 100mph - oh and "accidentally" getting hit by the opponents stick when you are not wearing significant quantities of padding and a helmet.

The only skill in Ice Hockey is staying on your feet.

Will say, Hockey is becoming softer. I have seen players now with gumshields and wearing facemasks when facing penalty corners. Never in my day. Shin pads were the limit of protection.

Wash your mouth out with soap Danny Boy!

For one, they throw the ball forwards.

Two, they can tackle players who don't even have the ball.

Three, they wear more Armour than a tiger tank including crash helmets.

I could go on but I'm obviously biased. Rugby League is fast and furious and, for me, the most entertaining sport in the world. I even prefer Rugby Poshboy to American “foot”ball.

I estimated Everton have to make a £12M profit. I was not able to take in account adjustments. This would bring the 3-year losses below the PSR threshold. Doubling the losses in the 2022-23 financial year was a real bummer.

I would say Everton will be referred to an independent commission next season. Damage limitation would be prudent for Everton.

Soccer is the pinnacle though, whoever said that it is “the opium for the people” used a great description, but it's over saturated nowadays, which means I try to leave it alone as much as possible.

Seriously, I am only talking about myself, but I was watching Italy v Croatia, last night, and was telling my ten year old to watch the game, because he loves doing skills.

Watch the game, I kept telling him, because there's so much skill being used in this game lad, so if you really want to learn about playing football, you would get off your i-pad now. Then my phone went, any call off Danny O'Neill, is really important right now, and I didn't even bother watching the second half, and still don't know how the game finished right now.

Hopefully we see a lot more games of such thought and technique, during the rest of the tournament, because if we do then football will be the winner🤞

But selling Hotels to yourself remains okay. Righto...

I'm sure they're thinking, FFS can't these lot not just behave themselves?

Right now I'd happily see the bubble burst. It would only take one reduction in tv revenue for it to happen. I don't particularly care how clubs do in Europe anyway so a strong English league phases me very little. The money in the game is obscene.

I'm still of the opinion that had we witnessed James. in the flesh, many would have had a different view on him. I could see the talent.

Your vendetta's, jealousy and hypocrisy are a joy to behold.

Me berating fans ??? It's barely a week since you were told to back off after repeated attacking Paul The Esk, claiming he was making false claims - Just before you claimed you knew all along what he was telling us.

And who was it who falsely accused one of the TW's most respected posters of being a Kenwright apologist..until the penny finally dropped for her - This despite the fact that she had been venting her anger against him long before you jumped on the bandwagon.

It was you who, on discovering Chelsea got a fifth who came on the LF with a spiteful vindictive attack on one of the most popular posters. - As if it was his fault. Why ? Because he had been positive. Of course you knew he was at the match and wouldnt respond.

These are not part of debate. nor are they isolated incidentS. they are unprovoked attacks aimed at discrediting other posters.. You are always doing it. You deeply resent the fact that other people are admired and respected.

This site is about Everton. Not Keiran Kinsella's desperate attempt to be Queen Bee or the "canary in the coalmine" - cringe.

You are always there front and center on matchday threads telling everyone where Dyche and the team are going wrong, but when you recently "confessed" that you have not been arsed watching or paying to watch Everton games, you merely confirmed something which is becoming increasingly obvious. You don't know what you are talking about. You are simply regurgitating other peoples opinion.

You can dismiss the boo's that greeted DCL'S departure from the Villa park pitch with a broken jaw as the actions of a Teeny weeny few. But those boos were loud enough to be heard in every football watching family home in the country.You can dismiss the years of constant innuendo's concerning his masculinity/ sexuality as the thoughts of an ill-informed mini minority.

Your attempts to gain traction by claiming people less well off are abused in the workplace is pitiful. This boys mental health struggles are well documented. No abuse is acceptable. Anywhere.

Your attempts to play down the abuse DCL has taken/Takes and the way you use his 100k wage to justify your argument speaks volumes.

I know what I have seen and heard. We ALL know what we have seen and heard.

But Hey; Never miss an opportunity to climb aboard your digger and start digging.

Football is more the amphetamine, unless you're watching England when it becomes the diazepam..

We signed the other guy from Bournemouth who left at the same time, I forget his name now, we always get it right, don't we? Maybe we tried but he didnt want to come, who knows.

He's 32 now, but he always looks an active fit lad, I wonder if a swap kind of deal could be worked out with Calvert-Lewin going the other way. I'd also want a few bob + Wilson for Calvert-Lewin.

Newcastle seem to have lost interest in Dominic so it looks like I'm whistling in the dark about the above.

Minteh apparently wants to come to us – remarkable (in a David Coleman voice)!

Maybe we and they have consulted our legal teams to see if we are actually breaking The Masters Sacred Rule Book - you know the one - The Lesser Teams Will Forever Remain Lesser Teams. The legal teams must have said get on with. They can't touch you.

Yet he never questioned £8.8 million for Tom Cannon, £25 Million for Brewster, or £42 Million for Palmer

Seems their plan for Everton to sell Branthwaite on the cheap has backfired, we have well and truly stuck one over them.

Let's hope Everton and Newcastle strike a deal to really piss him off.

Mind you, Cole turned out to be a cracking signing — we paid £6M for James bleedin' Beattie!

Calvert-Lewin and Minteh.